September 2004: Lahoud’s Presidential Term Extended
Under pressure from Damascus, the Lebanese parliament amends the constitution to allow pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud three more years in office. President Lahoud’s term ends November 24, 2007.
February-March 2005: Rafiq Hariri Assassinated, “Cedar Revolution”
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri dies in a car bombing. Protests against suspected Syrian involvement in the assassination and international pressure lead to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the dissolution of the pro-Syrian government.
May-June 2005: March 14 Coalition Becomes Parliamentary Majority
Anti-Syrian March 14 Coalition, led by the son of former PM Rafiq Hariri, wins a majority in parliament. New cabinet led by March 14 member Fouad Siniora, but also includes pro-Syrian and Hezbollah members.
November 2006: Shi’a Ministers Withdraw from Cabinet, Cabinet Approves Hariri Tribunal
All six pro-Syrian ministers in the cabinet resign after Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah’s demands for 1/3 of the cabinet seats and veto power over key cabinet decisions went unmet and negotiations for a unity government broke down. Nasrallah aimed to stop government from agreeing to Hezbollah disarmament following the summer 2006 Hezbollah-Israel conflict, and also to protect Syria from an investigation into the 2005 killing of Hariri.
Despite the vacancies, the remaining 18 cabinet ministers approve the creation of an international tribunal to prosecute those suspected of orchestrating PM Hariri’s death.
December 2006-January 2007: Anti-Government Hezbollah Protests
Hezbollah supporters camp in tents in downtown Beirut, increasing pressure on government to assent to Nasrallah’s demands. Violent strikes across the country on January 24 lead Hezbollah to rescind threats to dissolve government immediately, cooling sectarian tensions, but not resolving them.
May 2007: Hariri Tribunal Established
The United Nations Security Council establishes an international tribunal to investigate the death of PM Hariri at the request of PM Siniora.
September 2007: Presidential Election Postponed
Parliament is unable to elect a new president due to a boycott by pro-Syrian ministers. The elections are postponed until October 25 to give ministers time to decide on a consensus candidate.
October 2007: Presidential Election Postponed Again
Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri postpones elections for a second time, in hopes that a consensus candidate might still be found. The pro-Syrian opposition and anti-Syrian majority have until November 12 to decide on a candidate.
